THE AGENDA
The OUAZ softball team has a pair of doubleheaders on the agenda this week, starting on Thursday at 6 p.m. then they host Saint Katherine at Willow Canyon High School. The Spirit will then play at Arizona Christian on Saturday at noon at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix.
 
Thursday's doubleheader will be played at Willow Canyon High School. The softball field is located behind the tennis courts on the south side of the school. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to park in the lot near the tennis courts.
 
Live video will be available for all of the games this week will be available on the NAIA Network and the OUAZ Game Central portal. The NAIA Network is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku devices by searching NAIA. Live stats will also be available each game. Links for all the live coverage is available on OUAZ LIVE at OUAZSpirit.com/live.
 
ABOUT THE SPIRIT
OUAZ starts the week with a 6-18 overall record and coming off the program's first-ever sweep of a doubleheader. They are 1-8 in Golden State Athletic Conference action to currently sit in seventh-place and 7.5 games out of first. The Spirit are 3-11 at home and 3-4 on the road this season.
 
The Spirit are batting .285 on the year while posting a .739 OPS with 34 doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. They are averaging 4.42 runs per game while drawing 68 walks and striking out 70 times.
 
In the circle, the OUAZ staff has a 5.65 earned run average (ERA) in 156.0 innings pitched. The opposition is batting .358 with a .935 OPS and 16 home runs. Spirit pitchers have thrown five complete games with 104 strikeouts and 68 walks allowed.
 
Defensively, the Spirit have committed 50 errors while posting a .929 field percentage. They have turned four double plays and caught 20 of 54 would-be base stealers.
 
AT THE PLATE
Emily Stebbins continues to lead the Spirit with her .377 batting average which ranks 16th in the GSAC. Stebbins has a 1.005 OPS with eight doubles and one home run and she also leads the team with 14 runs batted in. Stebbins starts the week on an 8-game hitting streak during which she has gone 11 of 24 with three multi-hit games.
 
Miranda Davis leads the Spirit with 28 hits and 21 runs scored. She is now batting .364 on the season with an .885 OPS behind four doubles and one triple. Davis is third in the GSAC with 22 stolen bases – in 23 attempts – and she has 13 RBI. She is riding a 10-game hitting streak that includes six multi-hit games during the 16 for 36 run.
 
Sydney Saxton Siaki has recorded 22 hits and carries a .314 batting average. She has four doubles for a .713 OPS with 12 RBI and eight runs scored. Saxton's seven multi-hit games trail only the nine from Davis for the team lead.
 
Vanessa Rodarte is batting .333 with an .895 OPS in 39 at bats. She is tied for the team lead in home runs after hitting two during last week's trip to San Diego.
 
Caitlyn Swisher also has a pair of home runs and she starts the week with a .286 batting average and .895 OPS.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Bailey Coronado will begin the week at 2-7 on the season with a 4.36 ERA in 19 appearances and eight starts. Opponents are batting .328 off the lefty with 23 extra base hits, including seven home runs. Coronado has two complete games and she has won her last two decisions. She leads the Spirit with 54 strikeouts and is averaging 6.03 strikeouts per game.
 
Alexandra McCutcheon leads the Spirit with 11 starts and she holds a 2-5 record and 7.53 ERA. She maintains a .397 opponent batting average and has allowed 20 extra base hits. McCutcheon has recorded 29 strikeouts ad averages 4.20 per game.
 
Sabrina Jimenez holds a 5.10 ERA and is 0-6 in 10 appearances and five starts. Jimenez has tallied 20 strikeouts and opponents have a .340 batting average.
 
Serenida Marquez has a 1-0 record and 6.75 ERA in nine appearances.
 
ABOUT SAINT KATHERINE
Saint Katherine will return to Surprise with a 7-18 overall record after sweeping a doubleheader against Antelope Valley on Sunday. The Firebirds are batting .317 with an .842 OPS while scoring 5.04 runs per game. They carry a 9.31 ERA and 2.21 WHIP while maintaining a .915 fielding percentage.
 
After sweeping a doubleheader against Saint Katherine last Saturday, OUAZ has now gone 3-3 all-time in the series and they have won three straight.
 
ABOUT ARIZONA CHRISTIAN
Arizona Christian starts the week wit a 16-7 overall record and on a six-game winning streak. The Firestorm are tied for third in the GSAC with a 4-5 record and sit 5.5 games out of first. They rank third in the GSAC with a .334 batting average and with their 3.34 ERA.
 
OUAZ is 1-3 all-time against ACU and they are 0-2 at home.